Scott McConnell (Australian politician)

Scott Lindsley McConnell is an Australian politician. He is a Labor member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since 2016, representing the electorate of Stuart.

Early life and career

McConnell was born at Willowra Station in the Northern Territory. He spent his childhood at Napperby Station.

McConnell was a park ranger with the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission, and then worked in Aboriginal enterprises Ikuntji Community Council in Amata. He then became CEO of the Ingkerreke and Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation.

Politics

In 2016, McConnell won the Labor nomination in the remote seat of Stuart, held by Bess Price of the Country Liberal Party. During the campaign, McConnell travelled over 60,000 km while husting in the vast electorate, which stretches from northeastern Alice Springs all the way to the Western Australia border.^[1] He was endorsed by Alison Anderson, the retiring independent MP for neighbouring Namatjira and a prominent indigenous activist.^[2]

MacDonnell won the seat on a swing of almost 31 percent on 75 percent of the two-party vote, the largest swing of the election--enough to revert Stuart to its traditional status as a comfortably safe Labor seat in one stroke. He actually won 73 percent of the primary vote, more than enough to win without the need for preferences.^[3]

References